Convention Duty

This coming weekend, I and most of compatriots will be at PAX, the Penny Arcade Expo in downtown Seattle. We will be showing off GW2 for the first time to North American audiences, talking to fans, giving away books, and a plethora of other activities.

My personal schedule as far as major appearances is as follows:

 

Beyond Pen & Paper: RPGs, Videogames, and the Mainstream

Friday, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Wolfman Theatre

Role Playing Games - RPGs - have been around for decades now, evolving from their pen & paper roots to computers and consoles of all kinds. However, what started out as a niche genre has now crept into titles with mainstream appeal - Fallout 3, Mass Effect, and Oblivion. How did this jump happen? What differentiates the development of an RPG from other game genres, like shooters or platformers? Is it positive or negative to be an RPG game with their roots in pen & paper? And how in the heck do you go about defining what a "role-playing game" is to BEGIN with?? These questions and more will be discussed! Boundaries will be broken! Horizons will be expanded! And someone might actually use the term "THAC0"! Come roll twenties with us!

Panelists include: Brian Mitsoda [lead designer/founder, DoubleBear Games], Annie VanderMeer Mitsoda [game designer, ArenaNet], Tim Cain [design director, Carbine], Jeff Grubb [game designer, ArenaNet]

Guild Wars 2: Designing Dynamic Events

Saturday - 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM, Room 304

What does it take to create MMO content? Veteran game designers Eric Flannum. Jeff Grubb and Colin Johanson, key creators behind ArenaNet's upcoming Guild Wars 2, will give audience members a unique perspective on designing MMO content in this fascinating talk and workshop. In an informal presentation, Eric, Jeff, and Colin will show you how Guild Wars 2 designers create events in the dynamic, living game world and the many factors to consider when designing any kind of MMO content. Attendees will leave with a greater insight into the work of game designers and a deeper understanding of the Guild Wars 2 dynamic event system.
This session is a ticketed event with limited attendance. Please stop by the Guild Wars 2 Booth #642 to find out how you could get a ticket.

Panelists include: Eric Flannum, Colin Johanson, Jeff Grubb

Ghosts of Ascalon Book Signing

Saturday, 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM, ArenaNet Booth

We will be giving away and signing copies of Ghosts of Ascalon.

 

I also will be in the booth for a number of shifts for interviews. Come by and see us!

More later,